Only Lovers In Your Eyes

 Hey everyone, I'm the girl who spends way too much time watching movies, but you can call me TheCinemaChick! I've been looking back at some indie films I've seen this year and I've decided that I'm going to spend some time visiting them. So get ready for two tales of love, mystery and separation. With that said, let's look at Joss Whedon's film “In Your Eyes” and Jim Jarmusch's “Only Lovers Left Alive”.

Now, you guys know me well enough to know that I can't stand chick flicks. I loathe romance movies. Give me a good horror film any day. However, I kept hearing things about both of these films so my curiosity was sparked. The first one I mentioned is available to watch online through Vimeo. I believe I paid to rent it on there. However, I would pay to watch it again or even own it. Yes, it's a story about two people falling in love but its done in such a new way that I found myself enjoying it. Our story centers around Becky (Zoe Kazan) and Dylan (Michael Stahl-David), who live on opposite sides of the country. They've never met but they share a mental link making it possible for them to speak to each other and see what the other is seeing. They grow up not realizing what's going on until Becky is married and Dylan is a convict.

Through a long series of events, they fall in love. Bear in mind they have never seen each other. One day, they both agree to step in front of mirrors and in that moment, they both know it. They're meant to be. However, he's on parole and stuck where he is and she's just trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage. Philip Porter (Mark Feuerstein) is such a jerk! It turns out he uses his wife as some kind of psychiatric experiment. He even has her placed in a mental hospital against her will because he believes she's insane. Dylan, sensing something is wrong, violates his probation and flies to her, steals a car, helps her escape and they finally meet each other in the final moments.

I know, I just skipped over a good chunk of the film, but I really think this one's worth seeing. Yes, it's another fairly typical love story, but it's presented in a new light. I liked the idea that Becky and Dylan fell in love with each other, not their looks. In all honesty, that's one thing I have come to hate about movies like this in mainstream media. The most attractive men and women end up with partners and getting a happy ending. If you are average of ugly, well, sucks to be you. In this case, they got to know each other before seeing each other, so the love was stronger in my opinion.

While I do wish Becky hadn't been such a wimpy character, I can see why Joss Whedon wrote her that way. I say wimpy, but that's not the best description. I'd say she's awkward, unsure of herself and she wants to find happiness. She knows it's not with Philip because he keeps distancing himself from her. The more she talks to Dylan, the happier she is. When she escapes the mental hospital, I was so happy when she got her revenge on him. You go, Becky!

I'm glad they ended up together. I wanted to see Dylan leave his shady past behind and I wanted Becky to stand on her own two feet. They are a somewhat mismatched pair but they're so adorable together. It kind of renewed my hope in the romance genre, but only slightly. I won't be that shocked when I see another romantic comedy with actors like Cameron Diaz, Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams or even Jennifer Lawrence start popping up again. Once, just once, can we have a realistic romance movie? Seriously, every romantic comedy follows a formula. I can predict the movie based on the type of love interest. They're boring and could use a major overhaul. I guess I can see why people enjoy them though. It's nice to see two people happy together and live vicariously through that.

But again, things don't happen like that in real life. It's always boy meets girl, they fall in love, something tears them apart and they unite and declared their undying love for each other. Actually, this is also the plot of just about every Disney movie ever made. I know, I know, there are some exceptions, like “Brave” and “Frozen”. “Maleficent” taught us that men are bad and you should never trust them because they will hurt you. Okay, “Frozen” also did that, but to a lesser extent. You get my point! Love in the movies is not at all like love in real life.

Love in real life is weird and painful and confusing but when it's real, it's the best feeling ever. I know this because I was once in love but that ended...badly...oddly enough, he ended up with a former friend of mine. I was upset at first, but now I'm just laughing at both of them. He went from me, college educated, twice published, to a high school dropout.

Sorry, not sorry.

But the thing is, we won't end up together. We won't have some magical reunion where we realize we were meant to be. I'm okay with this. Plus, we all know I can do better.

You see my point though. I didn't meet, fall in love, break up and reunite. In the movies, its like they meet one man and that's the one they'll marry. It doesn't make sense to me. That kills the fantasy for me. I know, we go to movies to be entertained and to get away from the real world. If I'm going to see a romance movie, I want there to be a realistic edge to it. I don't want this same old story that'll never happen.

You know what? Go rent “Love Actually” or “Valentine's Day”. I know there's multiple plots in each one, but it's the most realistic you'll get. People make up, they break up and some people realize they picked the wrong person. Things to end on this perfectly happy note. There is a fair amount of uncertainty to it, which I loved. From someone who despises the whole genre, those would be the only two I'd highly recommend.

Well, I've gotten a bit off topic.

The second film is “Only Lovers Left Alive” and I will admit, I wanted to see this because of Tom Hiddleston. Can you blame me though? He's got such a wide range of skills! He's one of the most popular comic book villains, he's been F. Scott Fitzgerald, a soldier with PTSD, a captain in World War I and soon he'll be Hank Williams. Then there's Tilda Swinton, who is just...I cannot praise this woman enough. She's androgynous, she's vaguely alien in features, she's so soft spoken...seriously, can we be friends? I have the utmost respect for this woman. Tilda Swinton, you are one of my top favorite people in film.

Now, this is also a darker film. It is about a pair of vampires named Adam and Eve. Adam is the dark, brooding reclusive musician while Eve is the bright, extroverted traveler. They are polar opposites but they are deeply in love. They live separate lives but Eve decides to visit Adam and that's when things seem to get twisted. It's harder to find blood so it has to be purchased from the hospital.

Also, if you one of those “Oh my gosh, Tom Hiddleston is so hot!” girls, there are some nude scenes in there. Yeah, he gets naked. So does she. Then he eats a popsicle. It's very creepy yet sensual. I think it's because of the context.

Once together, they just work perfectly. They balance each other out so well. This is the kind of love you should want, not that stupid Edward/Bella crap. Anton Yelchin has a small part as Ian, who is the person who goes and runs all over Adam's errands. Then we have Mia Wasikowska as Ava, a younger vampire who has trouble controlling her thirst. It's because of her one of my favorite lines happens. She actually ends up killing Ian for his blood. Adam looks at her, then at him and says, “Well, you ate Ian.” He is so bland and monotone in the delivery that I just couldn't help but laugh at him.

“Only Lovers Left Alive” is not a fast paced movie. It does move slowly, there are parts that feel a bit too long but overall, it just felt intimate. I don't mean intimate in the sexual sense but in the sense that you've joined this journey of two people. Most of the scenes are tight, focusing on the couple and they play up the colors perfectly. Eve always looks stylish in something white and form fitting while Adam's clothes are usually darker and in less than perfect condition. John Hurt also has a small role in the film, as Christopher Marlowe, yes that Christopher Marlowe. The choice to barely focus on the secondary characters was a good one, in my opinion.

I highly recommend both of these movies if you just want a night in, by yourself or with a partner. They're quiet but artistically done. And remember, I hate romance movies but I loved these. “In Your Eyes” is available on Vimeo. “Only Lovers Left Alive” should be available on DVD and Blu-Ray soon. Actually, it comes out this Friday, September 12. I just checked Amazon so I can confirm this.

I'm TheCinemaChick and I'm single, ready to mingle but for now, I'm going to bed.

**No copyright infringement intended. This blog is just an opinion and done solely for entertainment, not to steal material**